April blogThe power of positive thinkingI went to a networking meeting the other day and the speaker was all about the power of positive thinking. And to some extent I can go along with that. Thinking that you are going to fail at something can become a self fulfilling prophecy. If you think you are going to fail you probably will. But if you think you will win you may not. Not everyone can win and just thinking positively cannot make up for lack of talent and effort or any number of other factors not under your control. And when positive thinking does not deliver it can be very upsetting, give rise to depressing thoughts and can even lead to depression. Recent research has shown that rather than thinking positively you could encourage positive thoughts using a meditation know as Metta Meditation or Loving Kindness. In a landmark study in North Carolina University Dr Fredrickson found that practicing this meditation increased the intensity of emotions such as joy, hope, curiosity, amusement, awe and love and that these positive emotions are necessary for a happy and creative life.Those who practiced these meditations found they had an increased purpose in life, had more friends and were happier, healthier and consequently more satisfied with their lives and over time these feelings enhanced creativity, clarity of thought and cognitive flexibility, making a virtuous circle. Happiness leads to success and success leads to greater happiness.